Afghanistan : what now for refugees?

Cover title.

“31 August 2009.”

Summary: This paper highlights the problems of meeting the needs of returnees and addressing population movements within Afghanistan, issues overshadowed by focus on the worsening insurgency. With rural areas increasingly insecure, many returning Afghans have migrated to towns and cities, causing the rapid urbanization that contributes to rising poverty, unemployment and criminality. Afghan institutions are ill-equipped to meet the needs of repatriating families, overcome obstacles to resettlement and tackle the continued refugee presence in neighbouring countries. The government’s inability to provide for and protect its returning citizens by ensuring basic services and the rule of law has let to an increasing questioning of its legitimacy.